Aeroplane catapult



June 17, 1930. F. F. DANIEL AEROPLANE CATAPULT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 28, 1928 June 1.7, 1930. F. F. DANIEL AEROPLANE CAT'APULTv Filed Nov. 28, 1928 5 Sheets-5heet 2 I Fdez-F. mf

June 17, 1930. F. F. DANIEL AEROPLANE CATAPULT Filed Nov. 2s, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jue 17, 1930. F. F. DANIEL AEROPLANE CA'IAPULT Filed Nov. 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 nfveztvr Ede/F1701? el l@ Q R .i -/av/LM- ...ffii i I/UY 'WwIewr nlll .Illu l. IIVIrl-W NN 4 mu 4, A mw 7% w@ wat Y 1 QM. wb, www x05.; b K PR June 17, 1930. F. F. DANIEL 1,765,210

I EROPLANE CATAPULT Filed Nov. 28, 1928 S'Sheets-Sheet 5 w \q Inventar z ByQmaom-w.

` Attorney vand claimed. i y

Patented June 17, 193() UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE AEROPLANE CATAPULT Application filed Novem'ecr, 1928. Serial No. 322,392.

The present invention relates to a catapult forlaunching aero}' lanes and has for its prime object to provide an apparatus of this nature which is actuated by mea-ns of 5 air under pressure which may be controlled Ilvention resides in the provision of a SOPPGY mechanism Jfor holding thc aeroplane on the catapult and the electro-magneto means for releasing the stop mechanism at the desired moment.

A still further object ofthe invention resides in the provision' of an aeroplane launching catapult of this nature which has its parts arranged in an exceedingly compact and convenient 'manner' and which is comparatively simple in its construction, strong and durable, easy to manipulate, thoroughly efficient and reliable in use and operation, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

lVith the above and numerous. other objectsy in View as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of Aparts as will be hereinafter ymore fully described In the drawing: Y ,Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of anaeroplane launching catapult embodying the features of my invention, f

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical "sec tion taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, p y

Figure 4 is a longitudinalvertical section through the cylinder,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section showing one of they stop devices, Y A

Figure' 6 is an enlarged detail transverse section'taken substantially on the line G--6 of Figure 5, i f y Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 1, v Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7',

Figure 9 is a detail view of the air control valve, Figure 10 is a sectional view therethrough taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 9, f

Figure 11 is a'vertical. transverse section taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Figure 3, e

Figure 12 is a perspective viewv of one of the aeroplane running gear engaging meni-v bers, and Y Figure 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment thereof. v

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes the deck of a vessel or Vany other suitable base on which it might be desired to mount a aeroplane launching catapult.

A pedestal 6 is formed .with a frusto-k conical body at the lower end of which is an outwardly directed annular flange 7 anchored to the deck 5 or the like by suitable` means 8. f f

The top of the pedestal'is formed with a plate 9 from which rises an annular flange 10. An annular shoulder 11 is formed about the `upper end of the pedestal to provide a circular rack. A turn table 14 has a central circular thickened portion 15 rotatable on the plate 9 within the iiange 10 and ball, bearings 16 are 'arranged in a circular series as clearly. shown in Figure 8in concentricy grooves formed in the opposed faces Y of plates 9 and portion 15. e ik pintle 17 depends from .the center of theportion 15 through a central opening in the plate 9 and a nut 18 may be engaged on' the bottomend thereof. to 2prevent upward movement of 'the turn table in re; spect to the pedestal. 1 f 'Y i Two pairs of bracketsV 19- depend from the turntable one pair-tofeaeh side of the pedestal. Shafts 20,1are journaledvnf the brackets 19 and have rack gears 21 on their inner ends meshing with the circular rack 11.

At the outer ends of the shaft 2O are hand wheels 22. Gbviously by turning either or both of the hand wheels 22 the turn table may be moved in respect to the pedestal G for pointing the catapult in the desired direction.

Upwardly offset ears 23 are provided on the ends of the turn table 14 and are fixed to platform 24 which is of an oblong formation as is clearly indicated in Figure 2.

Longitudinally extending supporting structures 25 depend from the longitudinal sides of the platform 24 and are braced in respect thereto as'at 26. Bearings .27 are mounted in sockets 28 at the corners of the supporting lstructure to engage with theV Y jacent the front end of one of the tanks 30 and may be connected by any suitable conduit means 34 with an air pump for supplying air under pressure to the tank 30.

The rear portion of the platform 24 is formed with a longitudinally extending oblong opening which is spanned transversely by suitable brackets 36 for supporting a cylinder 37 in which Yis mounted for 'rectilinear movement a piston 38.r

The rear end of the cylinder 37 is closed as at 40. The forward end of the cylinder 37 has a threaded end 41 therein. A' rod 42 extends forwardly from the piston 38 and is slidable through the head 41. A

A'pipe 43i's engaged as at 44 in the closed end 40 to communicate with the interiore-f the cylinder 37 and leads to a valve V.'- A pipe 45 engaged vwith the cylinder' 37 immediately adjacent the head 41 as at 46 to ycommunicate with'the cylinder 37 and leadsV to said valve V. n

A pipe 47 leads from one of the tanks v30V to the valve V. Anv exhaust pipe'48 leads from the valve V. VThis valve V includes a cylindrical casing 49 with a core 50 rockable therein on a stem 51 journaled in the casing.

and controlled by-a hand crank or the'like 52A; t Y This core, as is clearly shown in Figure l0 is rectangular inrcross section having its ends arcuate to conform with the interior of the casing. The pipe47 .is diametrically opposed to the pipe 48 in its connection with the valve while pipes 43V and 45 are diametri ally opposed in their connection with the valve V at points ninety degrees from the connections of the pipes 47 and 48 therewith..

lVhen the cor 50 is disposed as shown in Figure 10 itV will be seen that the air from the cylinder is free to flow through the pipe 47 through the casing 49 and through the pipe 43 thereby urgingthe piston 33 forwardly and the air in front of the piston will be forced from the cylinder 37 through the pipe 45through the casing 49 and exhausted through the pipe 43.

To return the piston 38 it is necessary to rotate the core 50 ninety degrees in a counterclockwise direction so that air would flow.

from the pipe 47 through the pipe 45 into the front end of the cylinder 37 to force the piston 33 rearwardly thereby exhausting air toV the rear of this piston through the pipe 43, through the casing 49 and exhaust the same through the pipe 48.

On the forward outer' end of; the piston rod 42 there is fixed a running gear engaging member which includes ashank 52 fixed to the piston rod as at 53 and having a transversely disposed U-shaped member comprising a bight 54 and legs 55. The legs 55 project upwardly through longitudinally extendingV slots A56 in the forwardV portion of the platform 24 to engage behind the running gear for pushing the aeroplane foriif'ardly bythe movement of the piston 33 as previously explained.

If desired only a single slot 56 may be used in conjunction with `the running gear engaging member shown-in Figure 13 which is L-shaped to include a shank 52 andan upwardly extending leg55", the shank being attached to the'rod as at 53 andthe leg extending up through the slot as willv be apparent.

A trough like slideway 58, is mounted longitudinally over the opening 35 by means of rearwardly tapering sides 59 preferably formed integrally with the slideway and-depending downwardly therefrom and divergingl downwardly from each` other and ter,- minating in longitudinally outwardly dirio rected flanges 30Y fried to the platform 24 to the sides of the opening ,35. Y Y f lhusV the trough like slidewayfinelines upwardly and forwardly. A pairlof chocklike stops r60 are slidable vertically through openings 61 inthe vplatform 24. Y

These openings Vare locatedto the outer sides of the rear ends of the slots 56. j Uf shaped brackets 62 have their upper extremities fixed as at G3 to the platform `24sothat the brackets depend Y downwardly immediately below the openings 61.

Stems 64 depend from the stops 60 and are slidable-through the bights of the bramk-` ets 62 `and springs 65 are disposed about the stems 64 impinging against tl'rebightsof the b ackets 62 and washers ortho-"like 66 on the lower ends of the stems. I I t Armsl 67 depend from the b'igl-rtsvof the brackets 62 and have catches 68 pivoted on they lower ends thereof and springs 69' are associated with these catches to urge them normally in engaging position with the member 66 for holding the chock-like stops in an upwardly projecting positionwith the springs under compression.

The catches 68 have 'armatures 70 `and electroanagnets 7l are mounted on the brackets 62 bynieans ofl sleeve extensions 72 and when energized' will attract the arma-` tures to rock the catches 68 against the tension of. the springsf) land disengage the members 66 so that the springs 65 will cause a cfu-ickv downward Amovement ofthe cho-'cklike stops'O;

The electro-magnets 'Tl are Controlled by a suitable' switch 74 on one of the supporting structures 25. 'It `will be' noted vthat the valve V is on the same supporting structure 25- as the switch 74 for the purpose of con` venienee. In Figure l I'ha've. illustrated a conventional aeroplane A which includes a conventional running gear B and a conven'- tional drag or tail skidC.

The wheels of the running gear B are located in engagement with the chock-like stops'O, the Ivalve V is set as shown in Figure 10, the switch 74 openr and the tail skid @is located in thc trough like slideway The attendants of the apparatus will now manipulate the turn table 14' by'means of the hand wheels 22 to direct the aeroplane A in the proper direction in which' it is de-' sired to take olf. i i.

When the catapult has lbeen pro'perlydirected and theaviator has his engine running at proper take off speed,the switch 74 is closed and the chock-like stops. 60 are caused to quickly gravitate downwardly out of the way of the wheels of the running gear so that the piston 38 may drive the running gear engaging member forwardly.

The legs of this member are shown engaged with the running gear to advantage in Figure 6 so that the aeroplane will be driven forwardly along the y'runway platform 24. As the aeroplane moves forwardly the tail thereof is elevated becauseof the` incline of the trough like slideway in which is sliding the tail skid C'.

This is important because it prevents the tail from striking the end of th-e runway platform after the running gear hasleft the same. Gtherwise, it is thought that the construction, operation, utility andadv'antages of this invention will be thoroughly understood without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embod'ii'nent of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail because inactu'al' practice -it attains the features of advantage enmnerated as desirable in the statementof` the invention and the above v description.v

This embodiment of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts discloses an apparatus which is obviously simple, strong, durable, convenient, easy to manipulate, and otherwisewell adapted to the purpose for which it is'd'esigned. However, I do not desire to be understood as conning myself to the, specific construction and relative arrangement of parts inasmuch as in` the future practice of the invention various changes and modifications may be made such asl fall within the scope of my invention as defined ink my'appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new is:

l. An aeroplane launching catapult appay ratus including a'runway platform, means for urging movement of ran aeroplane along the platform, a pair of chock-like stops slid-V able vertically through openings in the platform to chock the wheels of the ruiming gear ofthe aeroplane and to hold the areoprojecting through the slot to; engage the running gear Aof an aeroplane, a cylinder mountedfbelow the platform, a piston slidable in' theoylinder, a rod extending from I the piston and connected with the member, a't'ank for air under compression, and means for connecting thetank with the cylinder to cause -themovement of tliepiston, the rod and the member Ito urge movement of the aeroplane'along the platform, and releasable means' to hold the" aeroplane stationary on the platform. j y

v3. An aeroplane` launching' catapult Iapparatus lincluding a runway platform havy ing an V'ol'jl'ong 'longitudinally' extending openingin vone endthereof'a slideway disposedove'r the opening and inclining upwardly away from sai d end, sides dependin g y from thefslideway and fixed to the platform alongsideof the opening, said platform in the other endportion thereof being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a memb'er extending through l the slot,` to engage form being provided with a longitudinally extending slot extending from adjacent said highest end of theV slideway, said cylinder mounted beneath the platform longitudinally of the platform, a piston slidable inthe cylinder, a member projecting through said slot to engage the running gear of an aeroplane, means operatively connecting Vsaid member with said piston, means for imparting movement to said piston for moving said member in a reciprocatoryl manner within said slot, a pair of stops slidable vertically through openings in said platform at the raised end of said slideway to attract the wheels of the running gear of the aeroplane to hold the aeroplane stationary on said pla-tforin, spring means operatively connected with said track, normally urging the track.

upwardly through said opening, catch inembersy having operativo connection with said tracks for holding said tracks upwardly against the tension of saidr springs, said A'atches having armatures, and electromagnets for attracting the. armatures to release said catches.

An aeroplane launching catapult apparatus including a pedestal, a turn table on the pedestal, a, runway mounted on said turntable having an oblong longitudinally extending opening in one end thereof, a slideway extending over saidopening and inelining upwardly away fromr said end` means for supporting said .slideway on said platform, said platform on the other end Vportion thereof provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a member adapted for y reciprocatory movement in the slot, `means for actuating Vsaid member, said `member being adapted for engagementk withthe running gear of the aeroplane, for imparting movement to the aeroplane, a pair of stops slidable vertically vthrough openings in said platform at the forward end of the slidewat7 to stop the wheels of the running gear for holding the f aeroplane of the aeroplane stationary Von saidV platform, brackets depending from-thev yplatform belowsaid openings, stems dependingfrom the Vslots and sli dable through the brackets, springs engaged with the stems to normally urge the chock downwardly, a pivoted catch on eachV .Y

bracket toengage the Vstems for holding said r platform in the way disposed over said opening and inclin-V ing upwardly away from said end, sides depending from the slideway andiixed to the platform alongside of the, opening, said other end portion thereof being provided with a. longitudinally extending slot, a cylinder mounted in the opening within said slideway, apiston slidable in the cylinder, a member projecting through said slot to engage the running gear of an aeroplane, a rod extending. from the piston and connected with said member, a tank for air under compression, valve control means for connecting the tank Vwith the'cylinder for i imparting Areciprocatory movement to said pist-on lrod and member'. for imparting movement to the aeroplane along the platform when said member is moved in one direction, a pair of chockstops slidable vertically through openings -in said platform at the forward end of said slideway,the wheels of the running gear ofthe aeroplane holding said aeroplane station.- arily von said platform, stems depending from the chock, means for slidably supporting said chock inthe saidopening, said last mentioned means including springs engageable with the stem for normally urgingpthe chock downwardly, means engageablewith the stem for holding said chock upwardly against the tension of said spring means, and magnetic means for freeing said stem whereby said cliock may be moved downwardly under the pressure of said spring. V

In testimony whereof l'afiix my signature.

FIDEL FRANK DANIEL, 

